BZO Revision — Zürich's New Building and Zoning Plan (public consultation open until 1 June)
The city has put its revised Bau- und Zonenordnung (BZO) out for public consultation. The changes on the table will shape how Zürich looks and functions for decades to come — and residents have until 1 June to respond.
The BZO is the legal framework governing what can be built, where, and how densely across all twelve Kreise. The current version dates to 1992 and has been patched repeatedly since. The revision replaces that accumulated complexity with a single updated document — but it's far more than a tidying exercise.
Denser, but with conditions The city plans to allow more density in targeted areas through upzoning, with a firm condition: 75% of any additional building volume must be designated as affordable housing, directly linking densification to the city's long-standing goal of keeping housing within reach of ordinary residents.
More green, less heat A new green space ratio will require buildings to meet minimum greenery standards, alongside mandatory tree planting and ecological compensation measures — direct responses to urban heat. New public open spaces are also being secured in the plan.
Heritage protection expanded New core zones and neighbourhood conservation zones will protect areas identified in both federal and cantonal heritage registers.
One thing to know now Since the consultation opened on 18 March, the negative Vorwirkung has been in effect — meaning building permits can only be granted if they comply with the proposed new rules, not just the current ones. Anyone with a building project in planning should factor this in.
The public consultation runs until 1 June 2026. Full details at stadt-zuerich.ch.
